Olympic medallist Henk Grol injured just before the worlds

Henk Grol (NED) may not be participating at the World Championships. Holland’s hope for a medal tore his inside knee ligament during a training in Sindelfingen (GER). National coach Maarten Arens said: “His participation is very doubtful. The next days Henk will need to take a serious break and next week we will start with Henk’s rehab.”

Henk Grol was one of the most sensational medallists at the Olympic Games and is one of the favourites to win the World title in Rotterdam. The World Championships take place from August 26th until the 30st.
In 2008 Grol became European Champion at the age of 22.

The Dutch however have an excellent substitute, if applicable, by means of Elco van der Geest who’s in a state of absolute top shape winning his last three international tournaments.

Van der Geest however doesn't want think about that option as he is also busy in getting a Belgian license to participate at the Worlds.
"I'm ready to participate at the World Championships, but I can only wait for the formalities. There are speculations that I could be the stand-in for Henk Grol, but that's not the way I think. I only want to think about that option if I get the official nomination to fight for The Netherlands. But I have suffered quite some injuries in my career, so I know what it is to get such a backdraft just before a championship."

Profile Henk Grol (NED)
Weight: 100kg
Age: 24

Major honours:
2008 European Champion, silver in 2009.
2008 Olympic Games bronze medallist
Three World Cup wins: Warsaw 2005, Vienna 2008, Hamburg SWC 2008.

Profile Elco van der Geest (NED/BEL)
Weight: 100kg
Age: 30

Major honours:
2002 European Champion, silver in 2009.
20084 Olympic Games 5th place
Five World Cup wins: Rotterdam 2001, Rome 2002, Moscow 2002, Tunis GP 2009, Rio GS 2009
Swiss Open win in 2009, first international victory since 2002 in Moscow.

Major rivals for the World Championships:
Tagir Khaibulaev (RUS), Ariel Zeevi (ISR), Yauhen Biadulin (BLR), Daniel Brata (ROM), Jevgenijs Borodavko (LAT), Przemyslaw Matyjaszek (POL), Luciano Correa (BRA), Oreydis Despaigne (CUB), Takamasa Anai (JPN), Kyeong-Seob Sin (KOR), Irakli Tsirekidze (GEO)